How do you charge for tattoos?

I work on a set day rate, a day is 9am to 4/5pm. How long a piece takes comes down to how complex the final design is and the final size. Once I have some basic information I can give a quote on time and cost.

Do I see the design before the tattoo?

No, normally I'll start design work about a week or two before and slowly refine things until the day of the tattoo. Design work is included in the day rate — there is no separate charge.

Is numbing cream a good idea?

No. Numbing cream is only effective for 2–3 hours, so for a 5–6 hour session it's not practical. It also makes the skin irritated, puffy, and harder to tattoo.

Can I bring a support person to my appointment?

Not normally — Ship Shape is a busy studio. If there's a good reason to bring someone please let me know and we can work something out.

What payment methods are accepted?

Cash, PayPal, bank transfer, and all major cards (Visa/Mastercard).

How should I prepare for my tattoo appointment?

Stay hydrated, moisturise the placement area daily for a week or two before the appointment, and get a good night's sleep the night before.

Get in touch about your next tattoo.

Please let me know the following: Where the tattoo is going? What size you’re thinking? Colour or Black ‘n’ Grey? And a rough theme or idea for the piece. Studio in Auckland, New Zealand. Sessions by appointment only.

Realistic tattoo of a leopard and a cub on skin.

A scenic view of a coastal landscape with lush greenery, a sandy beach, and a prominent rock formation near the shore. The ocean is visible in the background under a partly cloudy sky.

Don’t live in New Zealand No Problem

Travel info

Collage of various black and white and color illustrations featuring abstract art, fantasy characters, and portraits, including a figure with playing cards, a warrior, and a shattered glass effect showcasing eyes.

Inspirational Designs for your next project.

My best work and the work I enjoy the most has depth and extremely realistic detail. If any of these available designs speak to you - I would love to create a bespoke tattoo for you.

Design gallery

Frequently Asked Questions

I work on a set day rate, a day is 9 am to 4/5 pm. How long a piece takes really comes down to how complex the final design is and the final size. Once I have some basic information, I can give a quote on time and cost.
No, normally I’ll start design work about a week or two before and slowly refine things until the day of the tattoo. I don’t charge for design work, it’s all included in the tattoo day rate.

No, numbing cream is only good for 2-3 hours so for a 5-6 hour day it’s not a good idea. It always makes the skin irritated, puffy, and harder to tattoo.
Not normally, Ship Shape is a busy studio and fills up fast. If there is a good reason to bring someone to the appointment please let me know and I’m sure we can work something out.

I accept cash, PayPal, bank transfer and all major cards (Visa/Mastercard)
Stay hydrated, moisturise the placement area daily for a week or two before the appointment and lastly get a good night’s sleep the night before.

dbkaye @ Ship Shape Tattoo

1443 Dairy Flat Highway, Albany, New Zealand.

Hours
Monday–Friday
9am–5pm

Email:
info@dbkaye.com